Clothes-line reel.



G. E. ALEXANDER.

CLOTHES LINE REEL.' APPLICATION FILED APII.2B. Ia'r.

1,246,833. Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

@111 Heim: -I

GEORGE E. ALEXANDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLOTHES-LINE REEL.

Application filed April 28, 1917.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, GEORGE E. ALEXANDER, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, in the county of Yew York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Clothes- Line Reels, of which the following is a specification. j

This invention relates to improvements in clothes-line reels, and has as its special object the provision of a reel comprised of simple and inexpensive parts adapted to be assembled without the use of tools or other holding means.

A further object is to provide a reel in which a single or double line may be used, the same passing through apertures designed in such manner as to avoid abrading the line in its passage therethrough.

Another object is to provide means whereby any length of line may be held extended, the remainder lbeing coiled upon a central spindle.

These and other like objects are attained by the novel design, construction and combination of parts hereafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing, forniing a material part of this disclosure, and in which z- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clothesline reel made in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the main portion of the barrel or casing.

Fig. 3 is a similar perspective view showing the base or attaching element.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the end caps.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the same.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental side view of the spindle.

Fig. 7 is a similar `view of the other end of the spindle showing the knob engaged therewith.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the spindle showing its peculiar formation.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the pawl' by which the line or cord is held taut, and

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the ratchet with which the pawl engages.

The barrel or casing 10 is cylindrical in contour and formed with two or more beadings 11, whereby it is materially strengthened, the spaced ends having straight, parallel edges 12 with extending projections 14 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

serial No. 165,200.

along the sides, while formed with the edges 12 are recesses 15, the same being` engageable with the depressed headings 18, formed on the arcuate base plate 20, similar raised headings 21 being formed along the side edges of the base plate, registering with the headings 11 of the casing.

The shouldered ends 22 of the base plate are adapted to engage and interlock below the corresponding projections 14 formed with the casing, while the projections 23 rest upon the outer side of the curved surface immediately adjacent to the edges 12, in such manner as to be rmly engaged therewith, and prevented from movement, the extensions 23 terminating in parallel, eppositely disposed feet 25, containing holes 26 whereby the structure may be secured by screws or nails to the wall.

A pair of caps 30 comprising disks curved arcuately outward and provided with annular flanges 31, are engageable over the combined ends of the casing 10 and base 20, firmly binding the parts together, both caps being provided with a central opening 32 through which is passed a spindle 33, formed with a crank-like loop 34, to which may be attached the inner end of the line 35, one of the extending` ends 36 of the spindle being turned at a right angle and again bent youtwardlv, forming in effect a crank 37 by means of which the spindle may be turned.

A knob 40 is rotatably secured on the end 37 of the spindle, and held in position when assembled by upsetting the extreme end 41, as shown best in'Fig. 7.

A disk 45, having a plurality of ratchet teeth 46, and containing an elongated central slot 47 to which the flattened end 38' of the spindle is itted, is held immediately beyond one of the caps by the Cotter-pin 48, passing through the hole 39 in the end of the spindle preventing it against displacement.

Between the ratchet disk 45 and the outer surface of the cap is disposed a pawl plate 50, the same being pivoted in the opening 51, upon a pin or rivet 52, secured in the cap, the pawl having an arcuate slot 53 formed in the movable end 54, the slot being of said dimensions as to pass freely over the spindle 33.

Formed with the pawl plate 50 is an angularly turned edge 55, the front end 56 of which is adapted to engage with any of the teeth 46 of the ratchet disk 45, so that the same may be prevented from turning in a lli.,

direct-ion to permit unwinding of the Cord when the pawl is in an engaged position, the line passing outwardly through openings formed in the casing l0, diametrically opposite the center of the base plate 20, the edges of the openings 60 being turned rentrantly upon themselves so as to form an integral eyelet, thereby preventing abrading the line in its passage in and out of the casing.

From the foregoing, it will be Obvious that an inexpensive and simple construction has been indicated, which can be produced at a minimum of cost.

The reel having been assembled, it is secured by screws or the like through the openings Q6 formed in the feet 25, the inner end oi' the line 35 being connected with the loop in the spindle 33, whereupon turning' the knob 40 and rotating the spindle, causes the line to be reeled, the extending bight of the line 35 being always aocessible as it passes out of the openings 60.

`When a suiiicient length has been withdrawn, and it is desired to maintain the line in a taut condition, the pawl is turned upon the pivot 52 so as to engage with the ratchet disk 45, thereby locking it against further rotation.

Obviously, re-winding the line upon the spindle will loosen the pawl so that the line will be readily re-wound.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a clothes line reel a Casing comprised of a cylindrical shell having spaced ends, a base plate engageable therewith, interengaging means formed with said casing and said base plate, feet integrally formed with said base plate, a pair of caps having annular iianges suited to engage with saidy casing and base plate thereby binding saldi` parts together, a wire spindle rotatably mounted in said caps, an extending crank integrally formed with said spindle, a knob rotatably mounted on said crank, and a loop formed in said shaft, adapted to be engaged iy the clothes-line which passes out through apertures formed in said casing.

2. ln a clothes line reel, the combination with a cyiindrical casing having spaced ends and a base interengageable with said ends, said base having a pair of oppositely disposed feet, of a pair of caps suited to engage with said easing and said base, a spindie mounted in said caps, means for rotating said spindle, a ratchet rigidly'engaged with said spindle, a pawl plate pivoted on one of said caps, said plate having an opening through which said spindle passes, and a pawl formed with said plate engageable with said ratchet whereby said spindle may be held against rotation.

8. In a clothes line reel, the combination with an arcuate casing, a base rigidly interengaged therewith, a pair of caps surrounding the ends of said casing and said base whereby they are held inrengagement, integrally formed eyelets in said casing, a spindie rotatable in said caps, a ratchet disk secured to one end of said spindle, a pawl engageable with said ratchet, means for moving said pawl into or out of engagement therewith, an operating knob secured to the opposite end of said spindle, and a loop formed with said spindle adapted to be`engaged with the inner end of a line.

name to this specification.

GEORGE E. ALEXANDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

